Introduction
The Rode M5-MP microphone set is a stellar choice for budding musicians and seasoned professionals alike. This review outlines its features, performance, pros, cons, and overall value.
Features
- Compact and lightweight design
- Matched pair for stereo recording
- Full metal body for durability
- Low-noise transformerless surface mount circuitry
- Wide frequency range (20Hz-20kHz)
Performance
- Captures crisp and clear audio with remarkable precision
- Ideal for studio recordings, live performances, and field recordings
- Handles various instruments and vocals adeptly
- Impressive sensitivity and low self-noise ensure professional-grade results
Pros
- Exceptional sound quality for its price range
- Versatile application across different recording scenarios
- Durable construction suitable for regular use
- Compact size and lightness make it highly portable
Cons
- Lack of onboard controls may require additional equipment
- Slightly sensitive to handling noise
Conclusion
The Rode M5-MP microphone set has really good sound, can be used in many ways, and lasts a long time. It’s great for musicians and sound engineers. Even though it has a few small issues, it works really well and isn’t too expensive, so it’s a good thing to buy.
Jeremy Crockett –
I have never heard of RØDE microphones before, but now I am glad that I did!
They are “bright” sounding and perfect for over-head mic-ing of cymbals (which is what I am using them for). I can easily recommend them to anyone looking for a reasonably priced pair of overheads.
Héctor NM –
I microfoni si sono rivelati un ottimo acquisto, al top di gamma (fascia di prezzo) per quanto riguarda le prestazioni.
C’è poco da dire sui Rode M5 (che non si sia già detto e scritto).
Posso aggiungere che hanno rivelato, all’uso, un’ottima escursione dinamica, bassissimo rumore e robustezza, sia in studio che in riprese live.
Li ho usati principalmente per la registrazione di strumenti acustici e di formazioni vocali (coro), in configurazione XY (con la staffa Rode apposita, comprata a parte sempre su Amazon)
Soddisfatto
Pete Froeberg –
Finally got to test these out- I’m actually really pleased with these mics especially for the price.
Gav –
Piccoli e robusti. Comprato per pianoforte acustico verticale (non è lo strumento più facile da gestire per registrazioni). Registrazioni in stereo che da un bel effetto se posizionati vicino alle corde verso basso e verso alto. Da fare molte prove però per capire come posizionarli per ottenere una buona registrazione. Infine sembra che vanno bene con il pianoforte aperto sopra, posizionati da sopra verso il basso, appena dentro il pianoforte, anche se si sentono un po’ le meccaniche del pianoforte per la sensibilità.
Kenneth Miller –
These mike are really good. I play classical guitar and record my compositions. The microphones I was using before I got these were very good but the Rode M5 has a more richer tone and more clarity. The price for these microphones was reasonable too. I am very satisfied with this purchase.
Theo –
I’ve owned a few RODE microphones over the years and have appreciated that RODE has been a pioneer in manufacturing microphones that home studio enthusiasts can afford while still bringing quality products that continue to be manufactured in Australia rather than the dime a dozen mic factories of the far east.
The M5’s are a great value at $200/pair, sound very neutral, slightly warm, without the shrill high end that is apparent in many inexpensive microphones. I’m using them primarily to mic acoustic guitar in stereo and they sound phenomenal! Very clear and detailed, don’t require too much mic preamp gain, and give a very honest and articulate representation of the source.
These are a pair of microphones you can keep in your studio for a very long time, and with the 10 Year Warranty provided by RODE, it’s peace of mind to know the company will stand behind their product.
Cheers,
Theo
Willy –
Bastante plano y fiel!
J. Gardner –
These are well built and well packaged by a company that seems to want to do right by their customers. I don’t have another pair of overhead drum mics to compare them to but I like the sound I’m getting. No complaints. The instructions are well written and informative. The packaging is a good storage container. One of those great values that comes along.
Jeremy Crockett –
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I bought a pair for for stereo recording. They seem to be very well made with all metal construction.
Very little background noise. I used 3 ft XLR cables — the shortest I could find, to avoid picking up interference.
Jan –
Ich besitze viele hervorragende Mikrofone u.a. von Neumann, Sennheiser und AKG und war schon vom Rode NT1-A begeistert, da es absolut rauschfrei ist und recht gut klingt für wenig Geld. Da ich für Stereo-Aufnahmen unterwegs ein gematchtes (also ein aufeinander abgestimmtes) Mikrofonpaar brauchte und die Bewertungen für die Rode M5 gut waren, habe ich mir diese gekauft. Für Studioaufnahmen nutze ich M/S mit einem Neumann U89 als Acht und ein KM84 als mittige Niere. Für unterwegs ist dieser Aufbau jedoch zu umständlich. Daher die Rode M5, denn die sind klein und lassen sich wunderbar in AB, XY und ORTF Konfiguration mit einer kleinen Rode Stereoschiene unterwegs einsetzen.
Mein Fazit ist kurz zusammengefasst sehr positiv. Hervorragende Mikrofone für kleines Geld. Für viele Anwendungen völlig ausreichend. Natürlich ist es kein spezielles Studio-Gesangsmikrofon und auch für die Aufnahme einer Akustikgitarre würde ich immer ein KM54 vorziehen. Aber im Proberaum, unterwegs oder für private Anwender sind das wirklich tolle Mikrofone.
Worauf ich mich hier vor allem fokusieren wollte ist das Matching. Viele Hersteller billiger Mikrofone behaupten zwar ein Matching. In Wahrheit jedoch passen die als „gematchtes Paar“ verkauften Mikrofone meist überhaupt nicht zusammen. Einzeln genutzt ist das egal, für Stereo-Aufnahmen hingegen benötigt man zwingend ein absolut gleiches Paar, was deren Frequenzgang angeht. Der Pegel ist weniger wichtig, denn das könnte man leicht kompensieren.
Zum Testaufbau:
Beide Rode M5 an einem Zoom H4N pro direkt unten in die XLR-Buchsen eingesteckt – in 1 m Abstand vor einer BR25 Box. Swipe und danach beide Kanäle verglichen (im Bild farblich unterschieden). Das ist natürlich kein Testaufbau, der den Frequenzgang der Mikrofone objektiv bewerten kann, da die BR25 Boxen schon nicht linear sind. Aber da beide Mikrofone das gleiche Signal im gleichen unperfekten Raum aufzeichneten, ist hier eine Vergleichbarkeit gegeben.
Ergebnis:
Sehr gut gematcht. Die Mikrofone gleichen dem anderen viel besser als man hier hätte erwarten können. Leichte (unbedeutende) Abweichungen sieht man bei 17 Hz (unterhalb des sinnvoll nutzbaren Frequenzbereichs) und bei 7 kHz, was aber der Raumakustik und der nicht exakt gleichen Position der Mikrofone (4 cm Abstand) geschuldet sein kann. Insofern alles gut, die Angaben von Rode stimmen. Man kann die Mikrofone also mit gutem Gewissen als Stereo-Set einsetzen.
Mal wieder überrascht mich Rode mit einer Qualität, die man für diesen Preis nicht erwarten kann. Bravo!
Tools. Electro. DIY –
I purchased these in my efforts to mic the grand piano in my rehearsal room. Based on some A/B comparisons with more expensive options — these little M5’s seemed like a relatively inexpensive entry into this for me. After seeing a Røde video showing them off on a grand piano — I purchased the matched pair along with the Røde bar for an ORTF setup on a single boom inside my piano. They did not disappoint. Presently running these into my Yamaha MG10XU board to record into my DAW. As some point, I will try these (perhaps on a high boom) to just record group in the room.
Tools. Electro. DIY –
We’re using these to mic a medium-size auditorium (~375 seats) to pick up the house sound during corporate singing. They work very well for this purpose, and have greatly improved the audio quality on our livestream. The mics did have a buzz, probably a 60Hz from being too close to a power cable somewhere in the wire routing, but I put both cables through a ferrite core and that knocked it out. Elna Magnetics P/N 0431176451 or 0431177081 should do the trick if you need one.
Theoden –
Since the outbreak of the pandemic our congregation has been worshiping via Zoom. Once we returned to our building, we chose to continue to include those who remained homebound to join us via that technology. However, our choir…which sounded fine to those gathered in the sanctuary…could not be heard at all.
We purchased the Rode M5 Matched Pair mics in an attempt to solve that problem.
When asked how it all sounded to those worshiping at home the universal reply was “Amazing!”
We are most pleased.
The mics look good, can easily be configured in different ways depending on choir size and location, and obviously transmit crisp and clear sound…even when using our rather old sound board and unique Zooming connection.
These mics are exactly what we needed.